Disability Employment Awareness Month has been celebrated in Texas each October since 1999. The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities produces a colorful poster for display in businesses, government offices and schools. The posters are intended to spark a conversation about employment of people with disabilities.
Artwork for the poster is selected by a submission and judging process and is open to any Texas artist with a disability. Ashley Sattler, from Beaumont, is this year’s poster competition winner. The colored pencil drawing is featured into the design of the poster. Ashley’s artwork embodies the national theme for Disability Employment Awareness Month, AMERICA’S WORKFORCE: EMPOWERING ALL.
“Inclusion in the Industry” is Ashley’s personal reminder that a healthy and productive workforce is made up of people of all different abilities. She acknowledges that she has Autism, and faces struggles every day. However, she says “No one should be prevented from bringing their talents to the table…and I hope this will not stop me from finding a place in the workforce. Inclusion does matter, especially for people like me. I do not let my disability stop me from pursuing what I love most: creating art. It is not just my passion, it is my life.”
As part of our state’s recognition of Texas Disability Employment Awareness Month, the GCPD promotes the Texas HireAbility Campaign. Texas HireAbility is a partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and the statewide Workforce Solutions network. HireAbility hopes to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and highlight the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce. Each poster includes the twitter hashtag (#TXHireAbility). Resources to promote disability employment awareness activities can be found at Texas Hire-ability.
If you would like to request a poster, please send us a message and provide your name and U.S.P.S. mailing address to obtain a print. The posters are permanently displayed alongside the original artwork at the offices of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities.
Reprinted from The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities
David Spears is a member of the Workforce Solutions Navigator team for the Texas Gulf Coast Region. Combining training and education to real world examples, David brings personal and professional experience with disabilities to the table in order to help job seekers with disabilities realize their potential. David has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration with over 20 years of experience in the business world.
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